Bed-bottom.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

J. BFAW. BED BOTTOM. 7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4,1903.

N0 MODEL.

)NVENTOR. BY 447 fi m v ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES Patented August so, 1904-.

JOHN WESLEY EFAW, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,791, dated August30, 1904.

Application filed June 4, 1903. Serial No. 160,068. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN VVEsLnY EFAW, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of Kingand State of Washington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bed-bottoms, and has specialreference to a support of this class embodying a plurality ofspiralbed-supporting springs.

Among numerous objects attained by this invention and readily understoodfrom the following specification and accompanyingdrawing, included as apart thereof, is the production of a durable and efficientbed-support,embodying essential features of adaptability, utility, andresiliency, which insures a comfortable and easy bed and prolongs theusefulness of the support.

The above-mentioned and other desirable objects are attained by theconstructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as disclosedonthe drawing, set forth in this specification, and succinctly pointedout inthe appended claims.

Vith reference to the drawing filed herewith and bearing like referencecharacters for corresponding parts throughout the improved bed-supportis disclosed in a single perspective view, which shows the support asviewed from the under side thereof, with a portion of one of the endcleats broken away.

This invention includes a frame of any design suitable to support thesame and which may comprise a frame in a couch or cot or an ordinaryrectangular frame, as 1, adapted to fit an ordinary bedstead. As nowconsidered this frame is constructed in the well-known manner andcomprises suitable end pieces, as 2, and side pieces, as 3, which aresecurely connected at the ends to the ends of the end pieces in theordinary manner, as by bolts, screws, or the like. The support properembodies a plurality of longitudinally-disposed supporting-bands 4,which are arranged parallel with each other at suitable separation andin any desired multiplicity and are preferably composed of sections ofthin flat bars of suitable resilient metal. Each of these bands iscomposed of two sections or bars equal in length and yieldinglyconnected together at their inner ends by a closed cylindrical orhelical spring, as 5, formed of suitable resilient wire and convenientlyengaged with the sections by passing the end portions of the wirethrough suitable transversely-disposed apertures formed in the inner endportions of the band-sections. 1n the present embodiment the endportions of the supporting-bands are extended across the upper sidesurfaces of theen'd pieces of the frame and bent downwardly across theside edges of these pieces, and suitable transversely-disposed aperturesare formed in these end portions of the bands to receive screws ornails, by means of which the bands are conveniently secured to the endpieces of the frame, so as to normally rest at a slight downward curveor bend, with the yielding connections or springs between the thesections comprising the bands lying substantially midway the length ofthe bed-frame, so as to offer yielding support to the bed proper at thepoint at which the greatest weight is im osed when a body is restingthereon.

Upon the supporting-bands 1 are arranged a plurality oftransversely-disposec'l slats or the like, as 6, which are formed ofsuitable length to rest freely between the side pieces of the frame 1and are suitably held in place on the bands at the desired separation bymeans of screws or nails passed through transversely disposed aperturesformed in the bands at the points at which these slats rest thereon,andsuitable vertically-disposed spiral springs, as 7, are seated upon theseslats and preferably so disposed that one of these.

springs will lie directly over each point at which. the slats rest uponthe supportingbands, and thereby render the structure more substantial.As now considered the springs 7 are formed conical, and they are placedin an inverted position relatively to their seats, so that the bases ofthe springs will be offered asa seat for the bed proper, and each ofthese springs is connected or coupled at the base end to the base end ofeach adjacent spring by means of suitable independent links, as 8, eachof which is preferably composed of a section of wire placed betweenadjacent coils and looped or bent at the ends about the outer or largestcoils of the springs, so that all of the sprin s will be connected formutual support against lateral play and still be free for limitedindependent movement when compressed.

Along the outer edge of each of the outer side rows of springs 7 ispreferably arranged a marginal support consisting of a band 10, composedof two sections 'of thin resilient metal yieldingly connected togetherat the inner ends by a closed cylindrical or helical spring 11, which issuitably fastened to the sections in the manner heretofore described forconnecting the sections and springs of the supporting-bands,and thesemarginal bands are connected to the end pieces of frame 1 insubstantially the same manner as the supporting bands are connectedthereto, excepting that they are so disposed and secured that theynormally lie substantially horizontal in the same plane with the upperends of the springs 7. These marginal bands are preferably connectedwith each of the springs 7, which lie adjacent thereto, by means ofsuitable independent ties, as 12, which preferably consist of sectionsof small pliable wire passed through suitable transversely disposedapertures formed in said bands and about the largest coils oreonvolutions of the springs and serve to connect the springs to thebands in a suitable manner to prevent inward lateral movement of thesprings comprising the side rows.

The springs 7, comprising the end rows, are held from inward lateralmovement by means of the independent ties, as 9, which are eachpreferably composed of sections of thin resilient metal bent atone endto form a suitable hook, by which the tie is engaged with the largestconvolution of a respective spring at the outer edge, and these ties arerendered of suitable length to extend. outwardly from the springslongitudinally of the frame 1 for a considerable distance and. arepreferably suitably secured at their outer ends to adjacentsupporting-bands, as by means of rivets or bolts passed through suitabletransversely-disposed apertures formed in the said ties and bands, sothat the ties will move with the sup- )orting-ljiands and retain theirpositions relatively to respective springs 7 for a more perfeet actionof the bed-support.

in the present embodiment a suitable wovenwire spring, as 14, is placedover the coiled springs 7 of the support and is secured at the ends tothe end pieces of the frame 1 in the ordinary manner, as by cleats 15,which are placed upon the outer side edges of the end pieces overmarginal portions of the ends of the woven spring and fastened to saidend pieces by nails or the like.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the support proper isself-contained, being simply attached to the frame 1 at the ends, andthat the parts thereof are connected together in such a manner as tosupport each other, while permitting of limited independent action, andyet insuring cooperation in yieldingly supporting the body.

This bed-support is simple and inexpensive in construction, durable inuse, and not likely to get out of order and affords a most com fortableand satisfactory support for the body when in use.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

1. in a bed-bottom, in combination with a frame comprising side and endrails, a plurality of longitudinally-disposed resilientsupporting-bands, said bands being bent at points intermediate the frameend rails so as to lie below the same, resilient longitudinal bands normally extending in straight horizontal planes above the first-namedbands and at points adjacent the frame side rails, slats carried by thefirst-named bands, helical springs mounted on said slats and beingconnected together and to the last-named bands, and independent tiessecured to the first-named bands and to the upper portions of saidsprings.

2. Ina bed-bottom, in combination with the frame, a plurality oflongitudinal resilient bands having their major portions disposed belowthe upper face of the frame, transverse slats secured to said bands,helical springs secured on the upper faces of the slats, and tiesconnected to said. bands and the upper portions of said springs.

3. In combination with the frame, a plurality of longitudinal resilientbands having their major portions disposed below the upper face of theframe, a plurality of bands normally disposed in straight planes abovethe firstnamed bands, springs connected together, means for connectingthe outer springs to the last-named bands, and means independent of saidlast-named bands for connecting both the upper and lower portions ofsaid springs to the first-named bands.

4L. In combination with the frame, a plurality of longitudinal resilientbands, springs, means for supporting the springs on the bands, and tiesindependent of said springs and being formed of flat metal having theirlower ends secured to said bands, and their upper ends hooked andconnected to the upper portions of said springs.

5. .In combination with a frame, two sets of resilient longitudinalbands carried thereby, one set having their major portions disposedSigned at Seattle, Washington, this 25th day of April, 1903.

JOHN WESLEY EFAW.

Witnesses:

JAMEs B. MURPHY, ARLITA ADAMs;

